Benjamin Colling Email & Phone Number

Vancouver, Bc, Ca

Vancouver, Bc, Ca

Vancouver, Bc, Ca

Together with two partners, I am pleased to announce that we have acquired Rhodes Wellness College. Rhodes was established 23 years ago by an incredible individual, Bea Rhodes, who wanted to change how those that need help can be helped, championing an extremely experiential model that helps Rhodes Wellness College students master a broad set of skills to become expert counsellors, therapists, and life coaches. Rhodes has literally changed the lives of thousands of graduates who have served and are currently serving in our communities across Canada- helping those with visible and invisible afflictions and obstacles in mental health, addictions, struggling relationships, and every aspect of life you can think of. Today, Rhodes alumni can be found in a myriad of private and public organizations as they carry out the vision of the founder of the school helping others live better lives.I am privileged to lead this organization to even greater heights and will work diligently to help students and employees become the best they can be. I am very grateful to have an incredible management team and staff that will help us continue to expand the good that Rhodes Wellness College and its students, staff, and alumni do in the world every day!

Vancouver, Ca

Responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for APEDU and for all functional areas including operations, human resources, marketing & sales, product development and delivery, and customer service. Duties included:* Creating and implementing long-term strategies and business plans for the organization encompassing all aspects of APEDU and its subsidiaries* Identifying opportunities for APEDU to improve across all functional areas to achieve the organization's growth plans* Directing and facilitating community and stakeholder relationships for APEDU and its subsidiaries* Managing physical resources of APEDU and its subsidiaries* Taking all necessary steps in order to meet and surpass the budget for APEDU * Conducting Advisory meetings to seek input from the community to further the appeal and service that APEDU’s subsidiaries provides the education community* Ensuring that APEDU and all its subsidiaries are compliant in every way with regulatory requirements* Managing human resources of APEDU’s subsidiariesAsia Pacific Education Group (APEDU) is an educational investment company that specializes in the growth, acquisition, and mergers of educations institutions across North America. Among its holdings, APEDU owns and operates Canadian Tourism College, a hospitality, travel, and tourism post-secondary institution based in Vancouver and Surrey, B.C., and Stewart College, a boutique ESL school based in Victoria, B.C.

Atlanta, Georgia, Us

Responsible for all admissions, recruitment, business development and local marketing. Oversaw a department of 40 including Ai's High School team, Admissions personnel, the international recruiting office and office administration. As an Executive Committee member, helped lead day-to-day operations. Created and implemented both short-term and long-term strategies to ensure Ai Vancouver was the #1 post-secondary choice for media arts, design, and culinary education in Western Canada. AiVancouver offers certificates, diplomas, and Bachelors degrees to over 1300 students. Juno nominee Shawn Hook and Chinese superstar Wanting Qu are two of its notable almuni. AiVancouver has been ranked the #1 school in Canada for game design by the Princeton Review in each of the last 7 years. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:* Surpassed 30 consecutive budgets over 15 quarters (the only “Ai” school to do so)* Created an expert team (the longest tenured team of all Ai schools) through a care, train, and motivate philosophy that has created one of the best environments in the system as recognized by company-wide surveys* Achieved and maintained the highest conversion rates in the system * Achieved the largest amount of organic growth (through referral campaigns) in the system* Managed and implemented cross-Canada recruiting campaigns that are significantly increasing Ai Vancouver’s student body from outside provinces* Increased international student body from 15% of total student numbers to 45% * Developed high-profile scholarship campaigns that have garnered world-wide exposure * Championed a cross departmental, completely committed approach for Ai Vancouver's external programs, directing Ai's high-profile Fashion Show, Open Houses, High School camps, regional visits, and all Continuing Education programs .

Vancouver, Bc, Ca

As one of the Senior Directors at VFS, directed and managed a team of 45 staff including the student finance, student services, admissions, and international divisions. Managed Vancouver operations and four international offices (Seoul, Mumbai, Taipei, and Mexico City). Worked with Department Heads, Class Representatives (from VFS's student body), governments, industry, academic institutions, banks, staff, and individual students to guarantee school and student success. Responsible for constructing and surpassing the school's annual revenue budget while meeting regulatory requirements, and surpassing student and alumni satisfaction goals.VFS is known as one of the world's premier entertainment arts schools. It has 13 programs that span all entertainment arts disciplines from film to animation and is ranked by 3D-World Magazine as the fifth best animation school in the world. Graduate successes include "District 9" (42 VFS graduates worked on the film including Director Neill Blomkamp) and "Hanna" (written by Writing graduate Seth Lochead).KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:* Grew revenue from $19 million in 2005 to $42 million in 2011* Opened and directed international admissions and business development offices around the world including locations in Mexico, Taiwan, India, and Korea, resulting in a vastly expanded student and alumni network. Students sources increased from 35 countries to 76 countries * Created dynamic partnerships with renowned international institutions including Mexico's two largest universities, increasing the school's international stature* Developed one of the most comprehensive student services division among private post-secondary institutions in Canada * Implemented student counselling and VFS' ESL programs* Created VFS' call centre and chat centre* Increased enrollment by over 80% * Oversaw VFS' scholarship program

Phoenix, Az, Us

Directed this international university's admission and community outreach departments for its British Columbia operations. Expanded programs throughout the Lower Mainland, the Okanagan, and Vancouver Island. Worked diligently and successfully to improve the university's image in the province. Established the province's largest Master's in Education programs by championing the unique Action Research aspects of the degree. One of these, a remedial reading project that greatly improved literacy rates at a Burnaby elementary school, was implemented across the Lower Mainland. The University of Phoenix established its Canadian operations in 1999.KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:* Established partnership agreements with school districts across the Lower Mainland and with various companies including Envision Credit Union* Grew the student body to 700 students from 50 students in four and a half years* Launched and grew the Master of Arts in Education program to become the biggest MAEd programs in B.C.* Helped open satellite campuses in Abbotsford, Kamloops, Nanaimo, and Victoria

Vancouver, Bc, Ca

Directed and managed all programs for this iconic non-profit organization relating to membership including marketing, membership finances, and customer service. Managed two working committees with 50 members, senior sales staff, and an administrative team. Successfully established the Leaders of Tomorrow program (see Summary above). Responsible for 75% of the organization's total revenue and developed new programs to increase revenue and customer satisfaction including a fully-sponsored Benefits and Privileges program for members. In 2000 The Vancouver Board of Trade was the third largest business association in Canada with over 4,400 members who in turn employed 280,000 workers, or 20% of the working force in B.C.

Managed all aspects of marketing, business development, and sales for this Vancouver deluxe hotel. Increased revenue from $22 million to $31 million in just 18 months by carefully increasing service standards across every job function, resulting in vastly improved customer service and increased word-of-mouth business. Aggressively diversified and increased business sources including successfully securing multi-million dollar conferences for the hotel, such as APEC '97 (Asia Pacific Economic Council) and MPI (Meeting Planner's International).

Responsible for all aspects of marketing, business development, communications, and sales. Began promoting the hotel 6 months prior to its opening. Planned the hotel's grand opening, established and implemented its online strategy, and developed strong relationships with key stakeholders across multiple market sectors (corporate, incentive travel, sport, live entertainment, tour companies, etc.). This resulted in the hotel establishing a record opening year occupancy for any deluxe hotel in Vancouver between 1980 and 2000, and a pre-booked guaranteed occupancy of over 95% for the two years following my departure (for 1998 through 2000).

Master Of Arts (M.A.), Leadership

Business, Communications

General Studies, Communication Arts